Perhaps the biggest incarnation of all things old-school Metal, Enforcer return after their solid debut-full length album in 2008 with this album, Diamonds. With a very appropriate title, it seems the band has honed their sound a little more, becoming a bit tighter as a group, and have recorded some of their catchiest Metal tracks to date. Each track of Diamonds truly is a diamond of it’s own.

Enforcer‘s signature sound of all things that helped make Metal the stomping ground that it is today is rather hard to miss. The unmistakable solid and catchy guitar riffs that could put early debut Judas Priest riffs to shame, clean vocals that best represent the most enjoyable of all early Metal acts, and drumming that is well recorded that keeps the pace of the music flowing when the guitars are nothing more then chords left to ring out all make up what causes Enforcer to really stand their ground in the recent old-school resurgance that seems to be happening lately. The only difference with Diamonds is that there seems to be a slight “Hair Metal” feel to some of the tracks on here, and feels a little more 80’s mainstream at times without being cheesy and still being fast or heavy enough to stay away from the distinction of “Hair” or “Glam” Rock or Metal.

The music on this release seems to run the gambit as far as speed and styles go, but the most prodominant of them all would be the Heavy Metal style. You get bombarded by that with the infectious “Midnight Vice” right from the start, a highly enjoyable song in the vain of early Judas Priest that will more then likely get you singing along by the second chorus, as well as the highly impressive instrumental title track, “Diamonds”, which seems more like an experimental track thanks to the great guitar solo that practically makes up the entire start of the song, then a slow paced stoner rock aspect that closes the song with an atmosphere that reflects the song name and album title well. You also have to take into account the songs “Katana” and “Running in Menace”, which are easily the best tracks off this release, that seem to have a bit of a Power Metal side to them, and with the chorus of these songs that are harmonized in a manner that shows some Hair Metal influence with riffs that leave the listener think they are listening to some alternate version of Iron Maiden.

“Roll the Dice” and “Live For the Night” are the more Speed Metal oriented tracks on here that shows the vocalist putting a little more effort into the material to keep with the intensity of the music, which sounds great and hits the higher notes without any problem, sounding fluid and natural during the chorus of “Live For the Night”. “Take Me to Hell” is another stand out track for the Speed Metal and Thrash elements of this album, closing the album out well, but perhaps not well enough to top how it starts with “Midnight Vice”. The only complication that all this brings up is that things seem to feel a little jumbled as the band clearly jumps from one style to another, and for some of those out there with O.C.D., it may prove to be an issue. If you don’t suffer from some sort of issue like that, or really could care less about the dramatic changes such as there and are more concerned about the quality of the product, then you are in luck.

Diamonds is a solid effort and an all around great album with no filler. This stellar album puts practically everything that made the early Metal style and albums so great all in one delicious package, ready to rock right from the start. If you haven’t heard Enforcer before, then you have truly missed out, and you should miss out any longer. Diamonds is more then a great album you’ll listen to a few times through the month, but is easily one of the best albums of the year, and has enough material that you’ll keep coming back for more even beyond that timespan. To make a long review short: Buy this album now!